Best Brandon Sanderson Audiobooks Ranked — Where to Start in the Cosmere

Brandon Sanderson is the most prolific author in modern epic fantasy — and almost everything he has written is available on Audible, narrated by the same two people who have defined how his worlds sound. If you have just finished Mistborn and want to know where to go next, this is your guide.

The Narrator Question First

Nearly all of Sanderson's audiobooks are narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, often alternating chapters. They have been his voices since 2005 and the consistency is part of what makes binge-listening his catalogue so satisfying — you never have to adjust to a new voice mid-series. Both are among the best in the business.

1. Mistborn: The Final Empire — Start Here If You Are New

This is the entry point most Sanderson fans recommend, and for good reason. The premise is unlike anything else in fantasy: the Dark Lord won a thousand years ago, and has ruled the world ever since. Ash falls from the sky. Plants are brown. The oppressed skaa live in slavery. And a small crew of thieves is planning a heist to overthrow an immortal god-king.

Michael Kramer's narration is measured, precise, and deeply characterful. The magic system — Allomancy, where characters swallow and burn metals to gain powers — is explained with the clarity of a thriller and the wonder of classic fantasy. At 24 hours, it is a substantial listen, but it moves fast.

Listen time: 24 hrs 10 min  |  Narrator: Michael Kramer

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2. The Way of Kings — His Masterwork

If Mistborn is Sanderson's most accessible series, The Stormlight Archive is his most ambitious. The Way of Kings is the first book in a planned ten-volume epic, and it is the most immersive fantasy world built in the last twenty years. The world of Roshar is battered by continent-wide storms. Humanity survives in the cracks. Knights Radiant once protected the world — and then abandoned it.

The audiobook is narrated by both Kramer and Reading, alternating between male and female point-of-view characters. At 45 hours, it is a commitment — but listeners consistently report that it is the audiobook that made them realise what the format is capable of. The scope, the detail, the emotional payoff in the final act — it is extraordinary.

Listen time: 45 hrs 30 min  |  Narrators: Michael Kramer & Kate Reading

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3. Elantris — His Debut, and Still Brilliant

Elantris was Sanderson's first published novel (2005) and it remains one of his most contained and satisfying standalone stories. A city of gods has fallen. The people who once lived there as divine beings are now trapped, unable to die, unable to heal, slowly losing their minds. When a prince is transformed and thrown into the city, he has to figure out what went wrong — before it destroys everything.

At just under 25 hours, Elantris is a perfect entry point for readers who want Sanderson's world-building without committing to a multi-book series. Jack Garrett narrates the 2020 updated edition with excellent pacing.

Listen time: 24 hrs 41 min  |  Narrator: Jack Garrett

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4. Warbreaker — The Best Value Sanderson

Warbreaker is one of Sanderson's most character-driven books — two princesses, a god who does not believe in his own religion, and a magic system based on colour and breath. Kramer and Reading narrate together and the result is one of the most listenable books in his catalogue.

Warbreaker also connects to The Stormlight Archive in ways that become very satisfying if you read them in order — making it essential reading for anyone planning to go deep into his Cosmere universe.

Listen time: 26 hrs 36 min  |  Narrators: Michael Kramer & Kate Reading

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5. Complete the Mistborn Trilogy

If you loved Mistborn: The Final Empire, the second and third books — The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages — complete the original trilogy and deliver one of the most satisfying endings in modern fantasy. The Hero of Ages in particular has a final act that listeners consistently describe as one of the best conclusions they have ever experienced in any format.

All three are narrated by Michael Kramer and together run approximately 72 hours — a full month of commutes if you listen for an hour a day.

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Where to Start — The Short Answer

New to Sanderson: start with Mistborn: The Final Empire. It is the most accessible entry point, the magic system is explained clearly, and it works as a standalone even if you never read the sequels.

Already read Mistborn: go to The Way of Kings. It is longer and slower to start, but it is the book that will make you a Sanderson reader for life.

Want something shorter first: try Elantris or Warbreaker. Both are standalone-friendly and give you the full Sanderson experience in a more contained package.

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